Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale? Do you charge for the trip?
She should check your odometer.

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.

On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 8:30:53 PM UTC-5, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.

-
Me and my brother came up with a way to mess with the people who complained about the price of repairs. I'd ask,"Do you just want to pay my cost?" When I got a yes answer, I had a ready made bill for 5 million dollars which I explained would cover my cost to arrive at this point. Nobody wanted to pay my cost, darnit. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Costly Monster

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Would averaging a few online prices do any good?

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:28:51 -0700, "taxed and spent"
wrote:


"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.

Yes. Chris was looking for trouble when he didn't just quote a price
for the part and be done with it.

"Told her I guessed the part was about $25, bought it years ago."

Three separate problems he caused himself in that one sentence.
"guessed", "about" "years ago". Years ago is iffy, but a lot of people
don't understand that stock normally increases in valuie while it sits
in inventory, and many stores encourage the belief that it doesn't by,
on special occasions when it's relevant, saying they sell old stock
based on what the wholesale price was then, and new stock based on what
it is now.

But In fact I'm not sure Chris was saying he'd increased his price from
what he woudl have charged if he had used the part when he bought it
"years ago. It doesn't matter because he said "guessed" and "about",
and so she was trying to help him figure out what he paid. I'm not at
al convinced she wasnt' willing to give him a profit on the part, but
what I know she did want is to remind him of what he paid for the part.

I also can't tell if when Chris said it was about 25 if that's what he
paid for it or if that's what he intended to charge for it, based on
what he paid for it.

Chris, next time just say, The part is 25 dollars. Or whatever it is
with your profit. I'll bet that's what you usually say, and that's why
t his hasn't happened before.

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:19:39 -0400, wrote:

I got it (at wholesale) and charged it
out to the customer at MSRP - about 15% over cost.

When I worked in a TV repair shop in the late 50s the standard vacuum
tube markup was 100%. Those were the days.

wrote in message
...
It was a pretty good gig - but I walked out and never went back. If
my knowing where to get the part they needed "yesterday", and getting
it to them within the hour wasn't worth something to them, too bad.
They were not getting it for nothing, and I didn't need their work
badly enough to take the abuse that came with it.


Those companies want something for nothing. I retired and about 6 months
later I got a call that some old equipment was being restarted and they
needed some help. I told them I would come back for the short time they
wanted but double what I was making while working. That is what they said I
worth when working, benefits, 401k, insurance and such. They balked at that
, so I did not go back. I did not need the money and would only be doing
that just to help them out. I thought if I was worth that much before
retiring, I would be worth that much if not more when they needed
experienced short time help.

"J0HNS0N" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:19:39 -0400, wrote:

I got it (at wholesale) and charged it
out to the customer at MSRP - about 15% over cost.

When I worked in a TV repair shop in the late 50s the standard vacuum
tube markup was 100%. Those were the days.

In the 60's my dad worked at a store repairing appliances. The parts markup
was double their cost also.

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:19:39 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:28:51 -0700, "taxed and spent"
wrote:


"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.

But she has no business knowing what the repairman paid for the part.
I occaisionally had customers when I was at the garage who expected
to get the parts at cost, or who brought in parts they bought
elsewhere and expected me to install them. (used, discount, or
whatever)
I finally posted labour rate to install customer supplied parts at
150% of regular rate. Easier than refusing to install the parts, with
the same result.


Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?
Even 50 years ago a good mechanic working for my cousin took me aside
and told me in a whisper I needed ignition wires. "Get them at the
parts store down the street and do it yourself. Mike is gonna charge
you twice what he pays for them."
Even he didn't like that practice.
That's what got me started doing most of my own repairs.

On 6/23/2015 4:42 AM, Vic Smith wrote:

Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?
Even 50 years ago a good mechanic working for my cousin took me aside
and told me in a whisper I needed ignition wires. "Get them at the
parts store down the street and do it yourself. Mike is gonna charge
you twice what he pays for them."
Even he didn't like that practice.
That's what got me started doing most of my own repairs.


I had a couple things needed replacing on my car, so I bought the
parts and took it in to the neighborhood shop for them to do the work
for me. Got a call from them later, saying I also needed a new
radiator (which wasn't a surprise), and there'd be a delay since they
had to order it. I said, Wait, I'd found one online for ninety bucks.
She said, We beat that, we found it for $75.

On 6/22/2015 10:04 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale? Do you charge for the trip? She
should check your odometer.


I wasn't 100% sure about my first diagnosis,
so I offered the second trip for zero trip
charge, in case I had to come back and work
on it again.

I usually also get half hour labor for install
that part, but she didn't seem to want to go
there.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/22/2015 11:02 PM, Uncle Monster wrote:
Me and my brother came up with a way to mess with the people who complained about the price of repairs. I'd ask,"Do you just want to pay my cost?" When I got a yes answer, I had a ready made bill for 5 million dollars which I explained would cover my cost to arrive at this point. Nobody wanted to pay my cost, darnit. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Costly Monster


She'd run on about "fair" cost, so I figure there
ought to be a few items I can throw onto the pile,
in case the bill isn't fair enough.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/22/2015 11:12 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:
And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Would averaging a few online prices do any good?


Not for me, because online prices don't show the
shipping and handling charges. Online prices are
closer to wholesale.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/23/2015 7:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 6/22/2015 11:12 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:
And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Would averaging a few online prices do any good?


Not for me, because online prices don't show the
shipping and handling charges. Online prices are
closer to wholesale.


A minor point perhaps, but you may wish to point out the expense (and it
is real regardless of what she or anyone else thinks) of you having that
part, paid for, sitting on a shelf for two or three years to ensure that
her refrigerator can be fixed RIGHT NOW instead of "I'll be back in two
or three days when the new part arrives."

There's no pleasing some people. Hang them with a new rope and they'd
still complain!g

I have a friend who manages large parking lots in the city. Supply and
demand rule that business. Some folks (talking some companies who lease
a goodly portion of a garage (also general consumers)) complain about
the manner of payment - Cash or Credit Card. They want checks, monthly
billing, etc. Nope. Not their business model - and they are a very
large, successful, multi-state operation so don't think they are being
short-sighted.

They will make all sorts of demands and when push comes to shove, my
friend will simply suggest that they call 555-555-1212. What's that
number? the customer asks

Our competitor, maybe they can assist you. But we don't want to park
with them, we want to park with YOU!

Suddenly, it somehow becomes crystal clear to them who holds the cards.g

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 8:45:07 AM UTC-4, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 6/22/2015 11:12 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:
And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Would averaging a few online prices do any good?


Not for me, because online prices don't show the
shipping and handling charges. Online prices are
closer to wholesale.



Some places the shipping charges are right there, eg Ebay. Other
places, you can certainly estimate the online shipping charges
from experience and if you really want to find the exact shipping
charges, just put it in your cart and proceed to checkout. And
IDK what shipping charges even apply. Typically a pro who orders
online is going to order multiple items at a time, which can reduce
the shipping cost a lot compared to ordering just one item.
Sometimes they also show MSRP too .
The idea of finding the price online doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Especially since the lady may go look there too.

On 6/23/2015 7:55 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 8:45:07 AM UTC-4, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 6/22/2015 11:12 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:


[snip]

Some places the shipping charges are right there, eg Ebay. Other
places, you can certainly estimate the online shipping charges
from experience and if you really want to find the exact shipping
charges, just put it in your cart and proceed to checkout. And
IDK what shipping charges even apply. Typically a pro who orders
online is going to order multiple items at a time, which can reduce
the shipping cost a lot compared to ordering just one item.
Sometimes they also show MSRP too .
The idea of finding the price online doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Especially since the lady may go look there too.

Some people... g

You have to consider that this bi.., er, customer may also suggest that
since Stormy COULD have bought a quantity of "reverse frammits" at a
discount, that she should only pay that quantity price. You know, 1
frammit at $16.95 but if Stormy had really been looking out for her, he
could have bought a dozen of them and then "her" cost should have been
$16.35!

Let's not forget that Stormy likely stopped to fill up with gas on his
his way home from her place. Ergo, the service/labor charge (if any)
must be appropriately discountedg

On 6/22/2015 11:59 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
"J0HNS0N" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:19:39 -0400, wrote:

I got it (at wholesale) and charged it
out to the customer at MSRP - about 15% over cost.

When I worked in a TV repair shop in the late 50s the standard vacuum
tube markup was 100%. Those were the days.

In the 60's my dad worked at a store repairing appliances. The parts markup
was double their cost also.


Same time frame with my brother as service manager at an auto dealer's
repair shop.

When I needed repairs, he would buy the part at cost for me and have
shop do the work.

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 8:54:52 AM UTC-4, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
On 6/23/2015 7:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 6/22/2015 11:12 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:
And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Would averaging a few online prices do any good?


Not for me, because online prices don't show the
shipping and handling charges. Online prices are
closer to wholesale.


A minor point perhaps, but you may wish to point out the expense (and it
is real regardless of what she or anyone else thinks) of you having that
part, paid for, sitting on a shelf for two or three years to ensure that
her refrigerator can be fixed RIGHT NOW instead of "I'll be back in two
or three days when the new part arrives."


That's a very good point. Getting the part right away, especially
for a fridge, has a lot of value, at least to reasonable people.
I just paid about $15 more for an $85 AC condenser fan motor, buying
it on Amazon with two day shipping, so it would get here faster
than other alternatives. For ~$45 more, they even claimed that
if I ordered it on Sat, they would have it to me on Sunday. I
certainly wouldn't be questioning a repair guy on a $25 part that
he had in stock. I wonder what that woman does when she takes her
car to the stealership for service?

On 6/22/2015 11:35 PM, micky wrote:
On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:28:51 -0700, "taxed and spent"

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.

Yes. Chris was looking for trouble when he didn't just quote a price
for the part and be done with it.

"Told her I guessed the part was about $25, bought it years ago."

Three separate problems he caused himself in that one sentence.
"guessed", "about" "years ago". Years ago is iffy, but a lot of people
don't understand that stock normally increases in valuie while it sits
in inventory, and many stores encourage the belief that it doesn't by,
on special occasions when it's relevant, saying they sell old stock
based on what the wholesale price was then, and new stock based on what
it is now.

But In fact I'm not sure Chris was saying he'd increased his price from
what he woudl have charged if he had used the part when he bought it
"years ago. It doesn't matter because he said "guessed" and "about",
and so she was trying to help him figure out what he paid. I'm not at
al convinced she wasnt' willing to give him a profit on the part, but
what I know she did want is to remind him of what he paid for the part.

I also can't tell if when Chris said it was about 25 if that's what he
paid for it or if that's what he intended to charge for it, based on
what he paid for it.

Chris, next time just say, The part is 25 dollars. Or whatever it is
with your profit. I'll bet that's what you usually say, and that's why
t his hasn't happened before.


Well, that gives me a lot to think about. Perhaps I ought
to write the MSRP on the bag, and that way I can sound a
lot more definite about prices. Good idea, thanks.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/23/2015 8:54 AM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
A minor point perhaps, but you may wish to point out the expense (and it
is real regardless of what she or anyone else thinks) of you having that
part, paid for, sitting on a shelf for two or three years to ensure that
her refrigerator can be fixed RIGHT NOW instead of "I'll be back in two
or three days when the new part arrives."

There's no pleasing some people. Hang them with a new rope and they'd
still complain!g

I have a friend who manages large parking lots in the city. Supply and
demand rule that business. Some folks (talking some companies who lease
a goodly portion of a garage (also general consumers)) complain about
the manner of payment - Cash or Credit Card. They want checks, monthly
billing, etc. Nope. Not their business model - and they are a very
large, successful, multi-state operation so don't think they are being
short-sighted.

They will make all sorts of demands and when push comes to shove, my
friend will simply suggest that they call 555-555-1212. What's that
number? the customer asks

Our competitor, maybe they can assist you. But we don't want to park
with them, we want to park with YOU!

Suddenly, it somehow becomes crystal clear to them who holds the cards.g


Interesting you should mention that. She was so pleased
that I came out the same day she called, all the other
companies were booked into next whenever.

So, I'm on the spot, arrive an hour or two after she
calls, but that prompt service is not worth the extra
couple bucks? Hmm.

If she calls back (still not working), maybe I'll be
busy until next week?

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/23/2015 9:05 AM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
On 6/23/2015 7:55 AM, trader_4 wrote:
Some places the shipping charges are right there, eg Ebay. Other
places, you can certainly estimate the online shipping charges
from experience and if you really want to find the exact shipping
charges, just put it in your cart and proceed to checkout. And
IDK what shipping charges even apply. Typically a pro who orders
online is going to order multiple items at a time, which can reduce
the shipping cost a lot compared to ordering just one item.
Sometimes they also show MSRP too .
The idea of finding the price online doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Especially since the lady may go look there too.

Some people... g

You have to consider that this bi.., er, customer may also suggest that
since Stormy COULD have bought a quantity of "reverse frammits" at a
discount, that she should only pay that quantity price. You know, 1
frammit at $16.95 but if Stormy had really been looking out for her, he
could have bought a dozen of them and then "her" cost should have been
$16.35!

Let's not forget that Stormy likely stopped to fill up with gas on his
his way home from her place. Ergo, the service/labor charge (if any)
must be appropriately discountedg


Quantity pricing is good, except when you have to put
the bill on charge card, with interest. Then it loses
all the saving.

Combined shipping is also good, I do that when possible.

I agree, that some customers are a real experience when
it is time to pay the bill.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 6/23/2015 9:06 AM, trader_4 wrote:
A minor point perhaps, but you may wish to point out the expense (and it
is real regardless of what she or anyone else thinks) of you having that
part, paid for, sitting on a shelf for two or three years to ensure that
her refrigerator can be fixed RIGHT NOW instead of "I'll be back in two
or three days when the new part arrives."


That's a very good point. Getting the part right away, especially
for a fridge, has a lot of value, at least to reasonable people.
I just paid about $15 more for an $85 AC condenser fan motor, buying
it on Amazon with two day shipping, so it would get here faster
than other alternatives. For ~$45 more, they even claimed that
if I ordered it on Sat, they would have it to me on Sunday. I
certainly wouldn't be questioning a repair guy on a $25 part that
he had in stock. I wonder what that woman does when she takes her
car to the stealership for service?


Good thought. She'd already thrown out some food,
due to defrosting. I'd think that saving her food
was worth at least the cost of the part.

I remember the time my furnace broke, in bitter
cold winter. Even with stove burners and space
heaters, it was rough. I ended up paying more so
I could get the furnace repaired, days sooner.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?

I don't drive one car much and often only have it serviced once a year. Get
it inspected and the oil changed. It tickles me to look at the bill and see
where they even add in shop supplies such as the rag the mechanic wipes his
hand with. You would think they would just charge so much and be done with
it instead of adding in all the small charges.

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
news
On 6/22/2015 10:28 PM, taxed and spent wrote:
"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his
head.


The cost is what someone is willing to pay. Take bottles water. I'd not
pay 50¢ for a bottle at the store down the street, but stranded in the
middle of the desert I'd pay $20+ for it.

Fix my fridge and keep $200 worth of food from spoiling . . .

So his reply should have been: "what's it worth to you"?

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:42:54 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:19:39 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:28:51 -0700, "taxed and spent"
wrote:


"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.

But she has no business knowing what the repairman paid for the part.
I occaisionally had customers when I was at the garage who expected
to get the parts at cost, or who brought in parts they bought
elsewhere and expected me to install them. (used, discount, or
whatever)

I learned you, a customer, can't do that when I was in my 20's. And I
figured out why the same day.

If you bring your own parts, and maybe you get to because it's an
antique car and you're the only one who has the parts. (You've been
hunting for them for years), then he has to charge more for labor. )

I finally posted labour rate to install customer supplied parts at
150% of regular rate. Easier than refusing to install the parts, with
the same result.

Sounds right to me.

And except for fixing tv's as a hobby, i've never been in business. But
I understand their pov.

Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?

I thought everyone charged 100% markup and still did. No?

Even 50 years ago a good mechanic working for my cousin took me aside
and told me in a whisper I needed ignition wires. "Get them at the
parts store down the street and do it yourself. Mike is gonna charge
you twice what he pays for them."
Even he didn't like that practice.

I would have taken that advice to mean that he liked you, his cousin.
Not that he disliked the practice. Is it too late to ask him?

That's what got me started doing most of my own repairs.

Indeed, you save an awful lot of money doing your own repairs, and some
take no more time than taking the car to the shop, or waiting for the
repairman to come to your house. Even if you lose time from your paid
job, if you lose 50 from work but don't pay 50 to someone else, you save
the money you would have spent on income tax on the money, had you
earned it. Plus the satisfaction, plus it takes much less time the
second time you do it (although there's a good chance I'll screw up the
third time I do something.)

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:49:46 -0400, Stormin Mormon
wrote:


I'm with you, that some customers are a bit too
much trouble.

Might just be my opinion, but doctors and lawyers are the worst
customers. They will nickel and dime you to death.
--
"You can not rehabilitate a person that has never been habilitated!"
-- Convict Guard 101

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 10:29:23 -0400, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?

I don't drive one car much and often only have it serviced once a year. Get
it inspected and the oil changed. It tickles me to look at the bill and see
where they even add in shop supplies such as the rag the mechanic wipes his
hand with. You would think they would just charge so much and be done with
it instead of adding in all the small charges.

I think I saw that for the first time at the dealer a few months ago. I
never went to a dealer before, but he had a sale and was charging no
more for wheel alignment than Firestone. He also claimed both of my
inner boots had leaks and needed replacing for 800 dollars. In fact,
one only had 50 miles on it and the other was in perfect condition also.

In article ,
Ed Pawlowski wrote:


The cost is what someone is willing to pay. Take bottles water. I'd
not pay 50¢ for a bottle at the store down the street, but stranded in
the middle of the desert I'd pay $20+ for it.



Excuse my more obsessive ways, but PRICE is what someone is willing to
pay. Cost usually has nothing to do with that from the buyer and is more
involved with the producer and is the price is worth it given the cost..
If it did, nobody would ever go out of business.
Fix my fridge and keep $200 worth of food from spoiling . . .
--
³Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive,
but what they conceal is vital.²
‹ Aaron Levenstein

On 6/22/2015 10:28 PM, taxed and spent wrote:
"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.


The cost is what someone is willing to pay. Take bottles water. I'd
not pay 50¢ for a bottle at the store down the street, but stranded in
the middle of the desert I'd pay $20+ for it.

Fix my fridge and keep $200 worth of food from spoiling . . .

On 6/23/2015 5:42 AM, Vic Smith wrote:


Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?
Even 50 years ago a good mechanic working for my cousin took me aside
and told me in a whisper I needed ignition wires. "Get them at the
parts store down the street and do it yourself. Mike is gonna charge
you twice what he pays for them."
Even he didn't like that practice.
That's what got me started doing most of my own repairs.




I used to do my own work. Just had brakes done and I saw what I was
charged for the pads. I know I could have gotten them cheaper, but I
don't get down on the ground so easy any more so I paid to have them put
in.

I also understand the shop had to either stock them or go get them etc.
He has to get a markup, he has to make a profit. What is the
difference if I pay $50 for pads and $50 for labor or if I pay $25 for
pads and $75 for labor? End of the day, the shop has to bring in a
certain amount of money to exist.

On 6/23/2015 10:29 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:

I don't drive one car much and often only have it serviced once a year. Get
it inspected and the oil changed. It tickles me to look at the bill and see
where they even add in shop supplies such as the rag the mechanic wipes his
hand with. You would think they would just charge so much and be done with
it instead of adding in all the small charges.



I hate that charge. It is built into some of the dealer software to add
2% to the bill. I had some diagnostic done that required just plugging
in the computer so I disputed the charge. I asked to see the dirty rags
and other trash generated. They took it off the bill.

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
news , she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.


The cost is what someone is willing to pay. Take bottles water. I'd not
pay 50¢ for a bottle at the store down the street, but stranded in the
middle of the desert I'd pay $20+ for it.


Went to a major league ball game a number of years ago. They wanted $ 4.00
for a bottle of water when you can get about 20 of them in the store for
that price.. Big ripoff when you take the family and have several to buy
for. The next time we went we took small coolers and our own drinks.

Ralph Mowery wrote:
"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?

I don't drive one car much and often only have it serviced once a year. Get
it inspected and the oil changed. It tickles me to look at the bill and see
where they even add in shop supplies such as the rag the mechanic wipes his
hand with. You would think they would just charge so much and be done with
it instead of adding in all the small charges.


Common practice nowadays including so called disposal fee. But as long
as they do a good job, LOL! Go to a tire shop to have a set of new
tires, they have environmental fee, same with batteries.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale? Do you charge for the trip? She
should check your odometer.

Quite unusual. parts plus labor is total of usual bill.
All kinda people in the world.

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 10:27:26 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

Ralph Mowery wrote:
"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?

I don't drive one car much and often only have it serviced once a year. Get
it inspected and the oil changed. It tickles me to look at the bill and see
where they even add in shop supplies such as the rag the mechanic wipes his
hand with. You would think they would just charge so much and be done with
it instead of adding in all the small charges.


Common practice nowadays including so called disposal fee. But as long
as they do a good job, LOL! Go to a tire shop to have a set of new
tires, they have environmental fee, same with batteries.

EPA regulations come to mind

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 6/23/2015 10:29 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:

I don't drive one car much and often only have it serviced once a
year. Get
it inspected and the oil changed. It tickles me to look at the bill
and see
where they even add in shop supplies such as the rag the mechanic
wipes his
hand with. You would think they would just charge so much and be done
with
it instead of adding in all the small charges.



I hate that charge. It is built into some of the dealer software to add
2% to the bill. I had some diagnostic done that required just plugging
in the computer so I disputed the charge. I asked to see the dirty rags
and other trash generated. They took it off the bill.

I use my laptop to pull the OBD II code using a USB adapter kit I built
and freeware software.

Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 6/23/2015 9:06 AM, trader_4 wrote:
A minor point perhaps, but you may wish to point out the expense (and it
is real regardless of what she or anyone else thinks) of you having that
part, paid for, sitting on a shelf for two or three years to ensure that
her refrigerator can be fixed RIGHT NOW instead of "I'll be back in two
or three days when the new part arrives."


That's a very good point. Getting the part right away, especially
for a fridge, has a lot of value, at least to reasonable people.
I just paid about $15 more for an $85 AC condenser fan motor, buying
it on Amazon with two day shipping, so it would get here faster
than other alternatives. For ~$45 more, they even claimed that
if I ordered it on Sat, they would have it to me on Sunday. I
certainly wouldn't be questioning a repair guy on a $25 part that
he had in stock. I wonder what that woman does when she takes her
car to the stealership for service?


Good thought. She'd already thrown out some food,
due to defrosting. I'd think that saving her food
was worth at least the cost of the part.

I remember the time my furnace broke, in bitter
cold winter. Even with stove burners and space
heaters, it was rough. I ended up paying more so
I could get the furnace repaired, days sooner.

-
.
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
. www.lds.org
.
.
You don't work on furnace yourself?

Oren wrote:
On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:49:46 -0400, Stormin Mormon
wrote:


I'm with you, that some customers are a bit too
much trouble.

Might just be my opinion, but doctors and lawyers are the worst
customers. They will nickel and dime you to death.

Hey, my daughter is not, LOL! I was so mad when she paid 2G for
noisy wheel bearings(known issue for certain Subaru) Since she
asks me to take her car in for service.

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 10:36:59 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

I remember the time my furnace broke, in bitter
cold winter. Even with stove burners and space
heaters, it was rough. I ended up paying more so
I could get the furnace repaired, days sooner.

Christopher A. Young

You don't work on furnace yourself?

He was spending money on hard drives, eaten by Internet creatures.